Health Psychology Program Requirements & Standards
The forte of our health psychology master's of science program is to prepare you for successful application to doctoral programs in clinical and health psychology or to begin your career in clinical health psychology.
USP's health psychology master's of science program trains you in all of the scientific and clinical practice requirements of the first two years of a doctoral clinical health psychology program. We do so in the context of a low-stress environment and a supportive atmosphere that ensures that you will excel and reach your maximum potential in preparation for a doctoral program.
If you do not want to pursue the doctoral degree but do want to work in psychology and the health care field, obtaining the master's degree will give you the basic set of qualifications to begin work in research and practice settings.
Coursework and Practicum
Through a combination of coursework and supervised practicum experiences, you will acquire a thorough background in the psychological theory of mental and physical health, research methods, legal and ethical issues, psychological assessment, neuropsychological assessment, behavior therapy, cognitive-behavior therapy, psychopharmacology, FDA new-drug regulations, the psychological and social bases of physical illness, and appropriate professional behavior in the field of clinical health psychology.
Courses emphasize current issues and state-of-the-art research. Practicums give you a chance to apply this knowledge in real clinical health psychology settings. Practicums are supervised field-placement experiences that involve face-to-face therapeutic interventions with patients. A broad range of practicum experiences will allow you to specialize in the clinical health psychology area you wish to work in when you graduate.
Degree Program Options:
MS Thesis Option (Full-time and Part-time)
The MS thesis degree program is designed for students who will pursue a PhD. The thesis track requires 49 credits of coursework, research, and practicum for graduation. The MS thesis curriculum requires 10 research credits, which include writing and defending an empirical thesis. It requires fewer practice-oriented credits than the non-thesis track.
The curriculum is designed so that full-time students can complete the program in one year. Courses and practicum experiences are ordered so that you acquire skills and knowledge in a sequence that maximizes learning. Typically, you will begin their studies during the summer and complete the program the following spring.
The part-time option is designed for working professionals who are willing to complete the program in more than one year. In the part-time program, you will take a minimum of six credits per semester or a maximum of nine credits. This includes the summer semester. It takes two years to complete the part-time program.
Whether you enroll in the part-time program or the full-time program, the curriculum is identical.
MS Non-Thesis Option (Full-time and Part-time)
The MS non-thesis degree program is designed for students intending to practice at the master's level or those who intend to apply to PsyD programs in professional psychology. The non-thesis track requires 48 credits of coursework and clinical practicum for graduation.
The MS non-thesis curriculum has been designed to meet the standards of the highest level of professional training in the scientist-practitioner model. The non-thesis curriculum includes extra coursework in treatment interventions and neuropsychological assessment, plus six additional credits in clinical practicum.
The curriculum is designed so that full-time students can complete the program in one year. Courses and practicum experiences are ordered so that students acquire skills and knowledge in a sequence that maximizes learning. Typically, students will begin their studies during the summer and complete the program the following spring.
The part-time option is designed for working professionals who are willing to complete the program in more than one year. In the part-time program, students take a minimum of six credits per semester or a maximum of nine credits. This includes the summer semester. It takes two years to complete the part-time program.
Whether you enroll in the part-time program or the full-time program, the curriculum is identical.
Review the Eligibility Requirements >
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